Headrest



1966 F. w. BLANCHARD 3,283,344

HEADREST Filed Feb. 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FLOYD W. BL CHARD ATTORNEY FIG.4 BY

Nov. 8, 1966 F. w. BLANCHARD 3,283,344

HEADREST Filed Feb. 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. IO

F 9 FLOYD w. gX A QSARD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,283,344 HEADREST Floyd W. Blanchard, 2334 Loma Vista Place, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Feb. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 344,332 9 Claims. (Cl. -338) This invention relates to a headrest and more particularly to a headrest which protects a coiflure of a wearer of the device by supporting the wearers head above a surface upon which the wearer reclines.

It is customary for a good many women to set their hair before retiring for the night. Hair curlers of various types are used for this purpose and these curlers are very uncomfortable to sleep on.

In addition, some of the curlers become separated from the hair due to contact with a pillow as a person sleeps thereon. Thus, many problems are encountered by women who set their hair before retiring for the night.

Other problems are encountered by women who are adorned with delicate coiffures. Such coiffures become disturbed and disarranged by the slightest contact with a pillow or the like. Thus, once a womans hair has been arranged, it is virtually impossible for her to recline without disturbing her delicate and expensive hair arrangement.

In view of the foregoing problems encountered by a lady in maintaining her hair in an attractive condition, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful headrest which overcomes these problems and which supports a womans head without force acting on her hair when she reclines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a headrest having comb teeth which penetrate a persons hair to contact the head essentially tangentially to the curve of the skull and which are mounted in a frame adapted to position the teeth clear of a bed or other surface to support the head while the wearer reclines.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a headrest which may be worn by a person while reclining to protect the persons coiffure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hair protective headrest which incorporates neck and cheek padding in such a manner that the headrest can be worn with comfort while a wearer of the device is sleeping.

According to the present invention, an arcuate frame is provided with a plurality of spring-steel teeth which penetrate the hair of a user of the device and contact the headessentially tangentially to the curve of the skull. The teeth have sufficient flexibility and are arranged in such a manner that they conform to the shape of the head and distribute the weight of the head among several teeth.

The frame positions the teeth clear of the bed while a wearer of the device reclines so that the head is supported in such a manner that the persons coiifure will not be disturbed. The weight carried by the teeth is reduced by incorporating neck padding into the frame to carry part of the weight of the head. The frame includes a pair of side members which are hinged to the frame so that the side members can be swung into firm engagement with the cheeks of the wearer. The side members hold the headrest in position on the wearer and cheek pads are employed to carry part of the weight of the head when the wearer reclines on her side.

A modification of the present invention is provided whereinthe comb teeth are arranged in such a manner that they support the head and simultaneously elevate the head above a surface on which the wearer reclines.

3,283,344 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 "ice The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a headrest of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the headrest of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a partial, enlarged, elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a crosssectional view of the headrest of the present invention shown in position on a wearer of the device; and

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified headrest of the present invention shown in position on a wearer of the device.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES l-9, the headrest constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a rigid, arcuate frame 12 having a fiont edge 14. The comb 18 comprises a plurality of individual, flexible teeth 20 which are preferably made of spring steel. Each tooth 20 includes a pointed end 22 and a flat end 24. The ends 24 may be held in place on the front edge 14 by molding them in place where the frame 12 is formed or by inserting them into slots 26 (FIGURE 8) with a press-fit. The rear edge 16 of the flame 12 carriers a hinge member 28 to which the hinge member 30 of an arcuate side wall 32 is pivotally connected by a pin 34. The side wall 32 may be swung to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 3 to facilitate arranging the hair of a wearer of the device 10 after which the sidewall 32 may be swung to the upright position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3. In this position, the wall 32 is locked to the frame 12 by a tab 36 which engages a mating slot 38 provided in each end of the frame 12. Each tab 36 includes a projection 40 and a beveled edge 42 as shown in FIGURE 6. The beveled edge 42 acts as a cam surface facilitating the entry of the tab 36 into the slot 38. The projection 40 engages the under side of the slot to lock the side wall 32 in its upright position. When the side wall 32 is in its upright, locked position, it cooperates with the comb 18 to form a passageway 44 for the reception of the hair H of*a wearer of the headrest 10.

A side member 46 is swingably connected to each end of the frame 12 by a hinge 48. Each hinge 48 includes an upper plate 50 and a lower plate 52 which are pivotally connected to the frame 12 by a pin 54. The upper plate 50 includes an upstanding wall 56 to which an associated side member 46 may be connected by means of suitable fastening means, such as the screw 58 shown in FIGURE 7. The side members 46 are adapted to be swung into firm engagement with the cheeks C of a wearer W. The members 46 may be maintained in such engagement by either clamping the plates 50 and 52 onto the frame 12 by tightening a knurled nut 60 on a threaded pin 62 or by engagingra protuberance 64 provided on one member 46 with a chin strap 66 provided on the other member 46.

A resilient cheek pad 68 is slidably mounted on the inner surface of each member 46 to carry part of the weight of the head A of the wearer W when she reclines on her side. The pads 68 are maintained in position on the members 46 by flexible bands 70 which are affixed to the pads and which pass through slots 72 provided in an associated side member 46. The bands 70 facilitate sliding the associated pad 68 downwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE to clear any curls which are adjacent the cheeks C of the wearer. W.

The frame 12 is encased in a resilient pad 74 which is curved to fit the neck N of the wearer W and which includes an enlarged shoulder-engaging portion 76.

In use the, headrest may be worn by the wearer W to support her head A and preserve a delicate coifiure, as shown in FIGURE 7, or the headrest 10 may be worn to support the head A in comfort when the hair H is rolled upon a plurality of large curlers, not shown.

The wearer W installs the headrest 10 by penetrating her hair H with the pointed ends 22 of teeth in such a manner that the comb 18 contacts her skull S essentially tangentially to the curves thereof. The flexible nature of the teeth 20 permits them to conform to the shape of the skull S whereupon the weight of the head A is distributed among the several teeth 20. The side wall 32 may be swung to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 3 while the headrest 10 is being installed. After the teeth 20 are in position adjacent the skull S, the pad 74 is brought into firm engagement with the neck N of the wearer and the side members 46 are swung into firm engagement with her cheeks C whereupon the chin strap 66 may be brought into engagement with the protuberance 64 or, alternatively, the nut 60 may be tightened, to maintain the side members 46 in firm engagement with the cheeks C. The hair H may then be neaty arranged within the passageway 44 whereupon the wall 32 may be elevated to its upright position and locked to the frame 12 by having the tabs 36 engage the slots 38.

The wearer W may then recline, as shown in FIGURE 7, and her head A will be supported by the comb 18 while the side wall 32 prevents any force from acting on her hair H. The teeth 20 are positioned in an arc about the back of the skull S so that the weight thereof is distributed among a multiple of teeth 20 while the neck padding 74 carriers part of the weight of the skull S, thereby reducing the total weight carried by the teeth.

The side'members 46 hold the headrest 10 in position on wearer W while the cheek pads 68 carry part of the weight of the heat A when the wearer W reclines on her side.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, a modified headrest 110 is shown wherein a frame 112 substantially similar to that shown in the headrest 10 is employed to support a plurality of teeth 120 forming a comb 118. The frame 112 is encased in a neck pad 174 to engage the neck N of the wearer W. The side wall 32 of the headrest 10 may be eliminated in the modified headrest 110 by providing the teeth 120 with extensions 122 having pointed ends 123 which are engageable with a clip 124 forming a single surface which supports the comb 118 in spaced relation with a surface on which the wearer W reclines.

The headrest 110 is used primarily for supporting the head A of a wearer W in such a manner that her hair H is suspended while she reclines on her back. Thus, the side members 46 may be eliminated because it is not anticipated that the wearer W will recline on her side.

In use, the headrest 110 is installed by removing the clip 124 and penetrating the hair H with the teeth 120 in such a manner that the teeth 120 contact the skulls S essentially tangentially thereto whereupon the neck piece 174 is brought into engagement withthe neck N and the clip 124 inserted over the ends 123 to support the wearer W as she reclines on her back in such a manner that the hair H does not have any force acting thereon.

While the particular headrests herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as. defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest for protecting the hair of a user of the headrest while said user is reclining on a suitable surface, comprising:

comb means for penetrating the hair of said user and contacting the head essentially tangentially to the curve of the users skull;

accruate frame means having a front edge supporting said comb in an acrnate pattern around the base of said skull;

wall means swingably connected to said frame means in spaced relation with said comb means whereby a channel is formed between said comb imeans and said wall means for reception of said hair;

a neck pad for said frame means, said neck pad carrying a portion of the weight of said head; and

cheek pads connected to said frame means for holding said headrest in position on said user andfor carrying a portion of the weight of said head when said user reclines on her side.

2. The headrest of claim 1 wherein said cheek pads are pivotally connected to said frame and wherein said headrest includes means for locking said check pads into firm frame means for supporting-said comb means in an are about the back of said head; and

means for supporting said comb means in spaced relation with said surface comprising an extension of said comb means forming an angle therewith in such a manner that the ends of said extension will contact.

said surface and support said head in spaced relation with said surface.

4. A headrest device adapted to preserve a coitfure of a wearer of the device, comprising:

comb means adapted to penetrate the hair of said wearer and contact the wears head; and

support means for supporting said comb means in spaced relation with a surface upon whichysaid wearer reclines, whereby said head is supported without substantial force acting on said coiffure, said support means comprising wall means connected to said comb means, said wall means forming a passageway with said comb means for the reception of said .coiffure.

5. A headrest device adapted to preserve a coiffure of a wearer of the device, comprising:

comb means adapted to penetrate the hair of said wearer and contact the wearers head; and

support means for supporting said comb means in spaced relation with a surface upon which said wearer reclines, whereby said head is supported without substantial force acting on said coiffure, said support means including an arcuate frame supporting said comb means in an arc about the back of said head, said frame being encased in a pad engageable weight of said head.

6. A headrest device adapted to preserve a coiffure of a wearer of the device, comprising:

comb means adapted to penetrate the hair of said wearer and contact the wearers head; and support means for supporting said comb means in spaced relation with a surface upon which said wearer reclines, whereby said head is supported without substantial force acting on said coitfure, said support means including an arcuate frame supporting said comb means in an are about the back of said head, said frame being encased in a pad engageable with the neck of said wearer to carry part of the weight of said head, said support means also including an arcuate side well connected to said frame in spaced relation with said comb means, whereby a passageway is formed between said comb means and said side wall to accommodate said coiffure. 7. The headrest of claim 6 wherein said support means includes a pair of swingable, side support members adapted to be swung into engagement with the cheeks of said wearer to carry part of the weight of said head when said wearer reclines on her side.

8. The headrest of claim 7 wherein said side support members are pivotally connected to said frame by hinge means adapted to be clamped to said frame to maintain said side members in firm engagement with said cheeks.

9. The headrest of claim 7 wherein strap means are connected to said side members for retaining said side members in firm engagement with the cheeks of said wearer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,279 5/1962 Stead 5-337 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A HEADREST DEVICE ADAPTED TO PRESERVE A COIFFURE OF A WEARER OF THE DEVICE, COMPRISING: A COMB MEANS ADAPTED TO PENETRATE THE HAIR OF SAID WEARER AND CONTACT THE WEARER''S HEAD; AND SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID COMB MEANS IN SPACED RELATION WITH A SURFACE UPON WHICH SAID WEARER RECLINES, WHEREBY SAID HEAD IS SUPPORTED WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL FORCE ACTING ON SAID COIFFURE, SAID 